Andre Villas-Boas has warned Inter Milan that Tottenham maestro Gareth Bale is even better than when he famously ripped the Italian giants to shreds in 2010.

Bale's performances in the Champions League group stage meetings between the sides in the autumn of 2010 announced him on the European stage. He scored a hat-trick for Spurs at the San Siro, then rang rings round Brazil right-back Maicon when Inter lost 3-1 at White Hart Lane.

"I think Gareth has evolved as player. He is even more threatening now," the Tottenham manager told a press conference. "I remember seeing the highlights of Inter-Tottenham, and how Tottenham came back into the game late on.

"Maicon was an outstanding right-back, one of the Brazilian right backs, so to see a young player like Gareth play like he did against him demonstrates his talent.

Take my shirt! Gareth Bale had already stripped Inter Milan rock Maicon of his dignity and his reputation (Photo: Getty)

"Now, two years on, he plays in a different position. He's become a different player; a bigger player and a more complete player.

"He's the kind of player who can determine the outcome of a game, as we've seen in recent matches.

"He is fine. Most of the players feel fine and fresh. There is a lot of rest time between a Thursday and a Sunday [when Spurs play Liverpool]."

The question of whether Spurs can hang on to a player of Bale's stature raised its ugly ahead again last night, when the Wales star was spotted watching Real Madrid at Old Trafford.

But AVB isn't bothered.

"I had no problem with it," the Tottenham boss said. "I was told about it in the afternoon. We spoke about the game today. It's a great game of football."